Kiani Beach Resort

"We have just returned from the most amazing holiday at Kiani Beach Resort, and I can honestly say it was one of our favourite family holidays we’ve ever had. The resort is rated as five-star, although personally I would say it is a very good four-star. That said, we had a fantastic time and would happily return. I’ve included a bit of a deep dive below into what we loved, along with a few areas where I think the resort could improve. Apologies in advance — it’s a long one! THE POSITIVES The staff ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Every single member of staff we came across, from management through to the cleaning team, was incredibly polite, friendly and helpful. They genuinely couldn’t have done more for us and really helped to make our holiday so enjoyable. The resort The whole resort was exceptionally clean and well maintained. There are multiple pools, restaurants, a mini arcade, mini market and kids’ club, so there is plenty to keep everyone entertained without needing to leave the resort. Sunbeds This was one of the things we particularly loved. With several pools, as well as rooms with swim-up pools, there didn’t seem to be the usual pressure on the main pool areas. There were no frantic “sunbed wars” or having to get up at the crack of dawn to reserve a bed! The hotel is also very good at enforcing its no-reservation policy, which we really appreciated. We found there were still plenty of sunbeds available mid-morning, meaning we could actually enjoy a relaxed breakfast rather than worrying about securing a spot by the pool. Kids’ Club The animation team are AMAZING. My daughter formed such a lovely bond with the team during our stay that we were all genuinely emotional when it was time to leave. I felt completely comfortable leaving her with the team during the sessions she attended, and she always came back excited to tell us everything she had been doing. They really made the holiday special for her. Location The location is fantastic. It’s right on the seafront and only around 25 minutes from Chania airport, which made transfers really easy. It’s also a brilliant location if you enjoy watching planes and boats. We saw military aircraft, military vessels and cruise ships during our stay, which was an added bonus for us! AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT Food The food is well prepared and there is plenty of choice, but after 10 days we did find it became a little repetitive. Some of the themed evenings were also a little disappointing. For example, Gala Night is described as “an elegant evening where the buffet is transformed into a refined culinary experience”. Unfortunately, we didn’t feel that the Gala Night buffet was noticeably different from the other evenings. Dinner timings Dinner doesn’t start until 7pm, which we found a little late when travelling with younger children. An earlier option, even just for families with young children, would have been appreciated. Drinks We stayed on the standard all-inclusive package as we couldn’t justify the additional €500+ for All Inclusive Plus. For us, the standard package would normally have been absolutely fine, as we aren’t big drinkers. However, we found the local soft drinks quite poor and, as most of the drinks available were carbonated, there wasn’t much choice for younger children beyond water. Overall Despite the points above, we had an absolutely fantastic holiday. The staff in particular really did go above and beyond and were a huge part of what made our stay so enjoyable. Would I return? Absolutely. We had a brilliant time and found it to be a great family resort in a lovely location. I would also highly recommend hiring a car for a day or two and exploring some of Crete. The island really is beautiful and there is so much to see beyond the resort. We particularly enjoyed visiting Lake Kournas, where you can hire pedalos and spot the freshwater turtles (around a 30-minute drive from the resort), and Rethymno in the evening, which is lovely for wandering around the old town and harbour (around a 50-minute drive). Overall, a fantastic family holiday and somewhere we would definitely consider returning to. 🇬🇷❤️"

"We really enjoyed our stay at Kiani Beach Resort and had a great experience from beginning to end. The resort has a lovely atmosphere, and the staff throughout the hotel were welcoming and friendly. Our room was much bigger than expected, which was especially nice for a longer stay. It was also clean and comfortable, and the hotel overall was very well maintained. The reception team gave us a warm welcome and were always pleasant whenever we needed anything. We were also very impressed with the food. There was plenty of choice, and we enjoyed trying different dishes during our stay. KBR3 was a particular highlight for us – the food there was especially delicious and definitely worth trying. The bar was another place we enjoyed spending time at, with very friendly staff and a great atmosphere. What really made the holiday special for us, though, was the entertainment programme. There was a great selection of activities throughout the day, so it was easy to stay active and have fun without ever getting bored. The animation team were all very approachable and put a lot of energy into their activities. Leni deserves a special mention. We really enjoyed joining her water gymnastics sessions. She brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm and made everyone want to participate. The Aqua Dance was also great fun and created a really lively atmosphere. For our children, the Kids Club was one of the biggest highlights. They absolutely loved spending time there and enjoyed every visit. Leda, Maeve and Denise were wonderful with them and made the children feel comfortable, included and entertained. It was lovely for us as parents to see how much fun they were having. All in all, Kiani Beach Resort offered us everything we wanted from a relaxing but entertaining holiday. Great facilities, good food, friendly staff and a fantastic animation team made our stay memorable. We would happily recommend the resort to other families and would definitely consider coming back in the future."

"We had an absolutely fantastic stay at Kiani Beach Resort! From the moment we arrived, everything was perfect. The staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help, which creates a wonderful and relaxing atmosphere. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and perfectly maintained. What we loved most was the warm, family-friendly atmosphere throughout the entire resort. Our children had an amazing time and felt comfortable and entertained from the very beginning. A special mention goes to the animation team, who were absolutely fantastic! They are full of energy, enthusiasm, and positivity, and they really know how to make guests feel involved and have fun. In particular, Eimen, Lily, and Benji were truly spectacular. Their energy, kindness, and professionalism made our holiday even more special. It was wonderful to see how much effort the whole team puts into making everyone smile, both children and adults. They really make you feel like part of a big family. We had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend Kiani Beach Resort to anyone looking for a relaxing, fun, and family-friendly holiday. We would happily come back again!"